Cheese-cutter and slice-discharger.



PATBNTED MAR. 31,1903.

3-. H. ROSE. CHEESE .GUTTER' AND SLIGE DISGHARGER'.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19, 1902.

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N0.724,ss4. W PATENTED MAR.31,1903..

' J. H. ROSE.

CHEESE CUTTER AND SLIGE 'DISGHARGER.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 19, 1902.

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WITNESSES; V .'NVE.NTO/-7 MW -M ATTORNEYS.

No. 724,334. PATENTB'DV MAR. 31,'1903. J. H. ROSE.

CHEESE CUTTER AND SLIGE'DISCHARGER. APPLIGATION FILED DEC. 19, 1902.

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No. 724,334. PATENTED'MAR. 31,1909. I

J. H. ROSE. CHEESE CUTTER AND SLEQE DISOHARGER.

APPLIGATION FILED BBQ. 19, 1902.

WITNESSES: INVENTOH L//Mfljfl ATTORNEYS.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

JOHN HENRY ROSE, OF SI-I'R EVEPORT, LOUISIANA.

CHEESE-*CUTTER AND SLICE'DISCHARGERE SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 724,334, dated March 31, 1903. Application filedDecember 19,1902. Serial No. 135,886. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN HENRY Ross, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Shreveport, in the parish of Caddo and'State of Louisiana,have made certain new and useful Improvements in Cheese -Outters andSlice-Dischargers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved apparatus adapted for cutting cheese anddelivering the slices.

The construction, arrangement, and opera tion of parts are ashereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus with an inclosing case orbox having a glass front. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section on theline 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horziontal section. on the line 3 3 ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4: a of Fig. 2. Fig.5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a.horizontal section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a perspectiveview of the principal working parts or mechanisms disassociated. Fig.Sisa vertical section of a'portion of the cheesetable proper and theslice-discharger below it. Fig. 9 is an enlarged face view of theslice-gage plate and the index forming an attachment of the same. Fig.10 is a perspective view of the index or marker forming such attachmentof the gage-plate.

Referring in the first instance to Figs. 1, 2, the cheese X to be cut issupported upon a table A, which is in turn supported upon and adapted torotate with a vertical shaft 1, which is stepped at 2 on the bottom ofthe box or case B, in which all the working parts are inclosed. Theupper portion of said shaft 1 passes through and is journaled andsupported in the transverse partition 6 ofthe box 13. The said partitionb is cut out, as shown at Figs. 5 and 7, the portion 3 so cut outserving to receive a slice severed from the cheese X and delivered uponit in the manner to be presently described. As shown in Fig. 2, theslice receiver and discharger 3 is hinged at 4 (see Figs. 2 and 8) andprovided with a forwardly-projecting thumb-1e ver 5, by which it may bedepressed. The

(see Fig. 7,) which tend to hold the said parts 6 normally in horizontalposition. From the under side of each of the sectors 6 is sus-' pended acurved flange or rail 9, (see Figs. 1 and 7,) the means of suspensionand attachment being hangers or brackets 10. As shown in Fig. 7, it willbe seen that these flanges or rails 9 constitute, in effect, aninterrupted-or sectional track. Upon such track runs a roller 11, (seeFigs. 1, 2, 8,) which is journaled in an S-shaped arm12, (see Figs. 7,8,)

the same forming a pivotal attachment of a piece 13, which is fixed byscrews or nails to the slice receiver and discharger 3. It will now beunderstood that when the cheesetable A is rotated the wheel 11 runs onfrom one rail 9 to the other and that when a slice has been out theoperator depresses the slice receiver and discharger 3 by pressingdownward on the thumb-lever 5, (see Figs. 2, 7, 8,) whereby the device11 12 pulls down that sector 6 of the cheese-table A which is at thetime immediately above it. Thus the-slice cut from the cheese X slidesfirst oh? the depressed sector 6 of the cheesetable upon the hinge-plate3 below and fromthe latter is delivered into the base-compartment 6,Figs. 1, 2, 6, of the casing or box B, where it is readily accessible.This operation of the sector 6 and slice receiver and discharger 3 isillustrated by dotted lines, Fig. 8. In addition to the spring-hinges 8for supporting the cheese-table sector 6 horizontally I provide thedevices 14, (see Figs. 1, 2, 7,) the same consisting of small posts setin the slice-discharger 3 and provided with antifriction-rollers intheir upper ends, which run in contact with the under side of the tableA. While this arrangement of the parts 14: may be preferred, it isobvious that their arrangement might be reversedthat is to say, theymight be attached to the under side of the table A and the rollers runin contact with the parts I) below.

For rotatingthe shaft 1, carrying the cheesetable A, I employ a chain15, (see Figs. 1 and 6,) which runs on sprocket-wheels 16 and 17, theformer, 16, being keyed on the'sh'aft 1 and the latter, 17, beingjournaled on a short shaft provided with a crank 18 for rotating it.

I will now describe the cheese-cutting mechanism proper, together withtheslice-gage attachment. Referring especially to Figs. 1, 2, 7, a knifeor'cutter 19 is attached to the lower ends of two rack-bars 20,which'arearranged vertically and guided in suitable ways in bars 19 andb arranged transversely in the box or casing B. Pinions 22 engage theseracks, the same being mounted upon a transverse crankshaft 23, and it isobvious that by rotating the shaft the knife may be raised or forceddown,as required. A slice-supporting plate 24 is hinged loosely to theinner end of the knife or cutter 19 and is made of the same length asthe latter and of the same width; asshown in Fig. 1. To the outer end ofthis slice-supporting plate 24 is attached a gageplate, the same beingarc-shaped and provided with a sectional longitudinal slot 25; It' runsin a keeper 26, which is attached to the outer end of the knife 19, andforms also an index, as will be presently described. The knife 19 andslice-plate 24 being hinged, as

described, it is apparent that they may be open at a greater or lessangle and that when so opened if the knife be brought down upon thecheese a slice of corresponding dimen-' sions will be cut. The parts 1924 are drawn normally toward each other by means of a spring 27, (seeFig. 7,) and for the purpose of further guiding the plate 24 anarc-shaped bar 28 is attached to its upper edge and slides in a keeper29, attached to the knife 19. A clamp-screw may be applied to the saidkeeper for locking the bar 28 in any adjustment. A rod 24 (see Figs. 2and 7).is supported vertically and slidably in keepers on the plate 24and normally projects below the edge of the latter.

Let it now be supposed that a sector-shaped piece has already been cutfrom the cheese X, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. If the shaft 1 berotated to place the cheese X in due positionand the crank-shaft 23 berotated in the right direction, the cheese-knife 19 will be brought downupon the cheese and the'rod 24 will project into the cut of the cheese alittle below the edge of the piece about to be severed. Then uponfurther rotation of the shaft 23 the cutter 19 will be forced downthrough the cheese, thus severing a sectorshaped slice therefrom, and insuch opera tion the rod 24 will move downward with the plate 24 until itstrikes the table A, when it slides upward, and the plate 24 will lieflat against the previously-exposed side of the cheese slice, thussupporting it and preventing it being broken, &c. The next step is thedischarge of the severed cheese slice, which is effected, as beforeintimated, by depressing the thumb-lever 5, Figs. 2 and 8, whereby thefront sector 6 of the table A, upon which thesevered slice rests, willbe drawn down into an inclined position,together with the hinged part 3,so that the slice slides from such depressed portion of A on part 3 andthence into the compartment b in the bottom of the casing B.

The gage-plate 24, forming an attachment of the slice-snpporter 24, isgraduated, as shown in Fig. 9that is to say, it is ruled lengthwise intoequal narrow divisions which are marked at oneeend with numbersindicatingthe diflerent weights of cheese in pounds to wit, 18, 19,20,&c. Theselongitt dinal divisions are subdivided transversely byaseries of rows of dots or short lines which are slightly inclined fromthe top downward to ward the left. The several'transverse divisions thusformed are marked i, ej 7}, 1 1b., &c., the range being from one-fourthof a pound to two pounds, as indicated in Fig. 9. The index 26 (shown inFigs.'9 and 10 and less distinctly in Figs. 1 and'7) consists in abar'having a series of adjustable fingers 26. This may be formed invarious ways, and I desire it understood that I do not restrict n 1yselfin this particular, the essential point being that the fingers shall beadapted to be turned to the right or left, as conditions may require. Inthis instance a flexible metal sheet isprovided with a series of teethor tongues 26, the sheet being secured about the bar forming the body ofthe index' and at the same time a keeper for the slidable gage-plate 24.

two-pound cheese, the principal point 26, which is in line with thenumber 22 on the left-hand end of the gage-plate 24, is turned to theleft, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Then the slice-supporting plate 24 isseparated from the knife 19 until the left-hand tooth of the index isopposite or adjacent to the dot on the longitudinal line of thegage-plate which is nearest to the number 22. This position is indicatedby dotted lines in Fig. 9. Such adjustment of the slice-plate 24relative to the knife is the exact one required to enable the knife tosever a one-fourth slice. It'will be observed in Fig. 9 that the heavierthe cheese the nearer to the number indicating its weight is the indexto be placed. In other words, the distance to which the slice-plate24isadjusted from the knife 19 varies with the thickness and weight of thecheese as a whole, the distance being less for the heavier cheeses andgreater for the lighter ones.

As shown in Fig. 4, one of the hinged sections 6 of the cheese-table isprovided with a series of points or spikes 30, the same being set in arow'adjacent to the side edge of the section. The section selected willbe the one upon which the last section of the cheese X will rest Whilebeing cut. The spikes 30 If now it be desired to cutaone-fourth-of-a-pound slice from a twenty-' serve to hold the piece ofcheese in due position While being sliced, since the weight of the samewould no longer suffice for the purpose.

The box or casing B may be constructed in various ways and in variousforms; but it is preferably provided with glass sides in its upperportion, and one of the sides is hinged, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5,to allow a cheese to be readily placed on the table A. The glass frontmay be also adapted to he slid up and down; but these are details forwhich I make no claim. A distinguishing feature of the box is, however,the provision of the partition I) with an opening in which the hingedand depressible slice discharger 3 is arranged. It will be noted that bythis arrangement the cheese X is entirely inclosed and protected whilesevered slices may be removed at will. The lower compartment 12 is openat the front, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, so that the slice deliveredthereint-o may be conveniently removed. The same construction alsopermits convenient access to the crank 18 of the sprocket-gearing.

In practice I prefer that the knife or cutter 19 shall make a shear cutso far as practicable'. For this purpose its lower edge may be slightlyinclined; but I prefer that the rackgearing 21 22 shall be soconstructed that the front end of the knife will be forced down slightlyin advance of the inner end of the same. For this purpose the pinionwhich is nearest the front side of the box is made about one-thirdlarger than the other, so that the front end of the knife will be causedto move downward faster than its inner end. To permit such movement, itis obviously necessary that the rack-bars 21 shall be pivoted to theknife 19 in such manner as to permit slight vertical oscillation of theknife. The latter also requires to be somewhat loosely hinged to theplate 24, as before intimated.

What I claim is 1. The combination, with the cheese-holding table, aknife, and means for adjusting the same vertically, of a slicesupporting plate, and means for connecting it with the knife,substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with a cheese-holding table, and a knife arrangedabove the same, and means for moving it vertically, of a slicesupportingplate and a slidable rod which normally extends slightly below theknife, and means for connecting said plate with the knife and supportingit in position while being forced down along with the latter,substantially as'shown and described.

3. The combination with a cheese-holding table and a knife arrangedhorizontally and adapted to be moved vertically, of a slicesnpportingplate which is hinged to said knife.

at its inner end, and thus adapted to swing laterally at its freeend,snbstantially as shown and described.

4. The combination with a cheese-holding table and a knife arrangedhorizontally above the same, and means for adjusting it verti cally, ofa slice-supporting plate which is con nected .with the knife at itsinner end, and a gage-plate applied to the outer ends of said knife andplate, and a device for indicating on the gage the point to which the.slicesupporting plate shall beadj usted for a given weight of cheese,substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination with the verticallymovable knife and aslice-supporting plate hinged thereto at its inner end of the slottedgage-plate attached to the slice-supporting plate, and an index securedto the end of the knife and provided with reversible points forindicating on the gage the point to which the slice-supporting plateshall be adjusted for a given weight of cheese, substantially as shownand described.

6. The index for the use specified, consisting of a bar provided withflexible points, sub stantially as'shown and described.

7 The combination, with the rotary table and a vertically-movable knife,of the slicesupporting plate hinged to the inner end of the knife, andan arc bar secured to said plate and working in a keeper and guide onthe knife, and a clamp for securing it in any adjustment, substantiallyas shown and described.

8. In a cheese-cutting and slice-dischargingapparatus, a table having ahinged depressible section, substantiallyas shown and described.

9. In a cheese-cutting and slice-discharging apparatus, a table having aseries of depressible sections which are sectorshaped and hinged to acentral portion or hub, and means for supporting the same in normalhorizontal position, substantially as shown anddescribed. v

10. The combination, with the rotary shaft arranged vertically andhaving a fixed hub,

I of the series of depressible sector-shaped sections which are hingedtosaid hub and form therewith a plane top surface, and springsupportinghinges for said sections, substantially as shown and described.

11. The combination with a horizontal surface,of a rotary cheese-holdingtable arranged above the same and having a depressible secto support thetable-sections in the manner shown and described.

13. The combination,with a horizontal par tition, having a depressibleportion, of aro-: tary cheese-holdlng table having a depressi- IIO blesection, and a device connected with the depressible portions wherebyboth may be depressed together, substantially as shown and described.

- 14. The combination of a cheese-holding table, having a hingedspring-supported section, and a partition beneath the table having alsoa spring-supported depressible section, and means for connecting the twodepressible portions whereby they are operated together, to effect thedischarge of a slice severed from the cheese, substantially as shown anddescribed.

15. The combination, with ahorizontal partition having a depressibleportion and a rotary cheese-holding table arranged above and parallel tothe same, the said table having a depressible section provided on itsunder side with an arc-shaped rail, of a device secured to thedepressible portion of the said partition and adapted to engage with andrun upon the rail of the table-section, whereby the parts may bedepressed together to effect discharge of a cheese slice, in the mannershown and described.

16. The combination, with a rotary cheeseholding table having hingedsections which are spring-supported and provided on their under sideswith arc-shaped rails, of a slice receiving and discharging. platearranged below said table, and a device attached thereto 7 and having anantifriction-roller adapted to run on the rails of the table,substantially as shown and described.

17. The combination, with a slice-holding table having a depressiblesection and a depressible section arranged below said table and normallyparallel thereto, of a connecting device whereby both said parts may bedepressed together, substantially as shown and described.

18. The-combination, with a rotary cheeseholding table composed ofspring-supported sections having separated arc-shaped rails hung fromtheir under sides and a springsupported depressible plate arranged belowthe table and provided with a thumb-lever as specified, of a devicepivoted to said plate and provided with a roller adapted to run on therails of the table-sections, substantially as shown and described.

19. The rotary cheese-holding table composed of a series of hingedspring-supported sections, one of which is provided with a series ofvertical points adjacent to one of its side edges, substantially as andfor the pur* pose specified.

20. The combination, of a box or casing having a horizontal partition I)provided with a hinged depressible portion 3 adapted to open downwardinto the lower compartment of said box, and a rotary cheese-holdingtable arranged in the closed portion of the box above said partition andprovided with depressible sections, whereby severed slices of cheese maybe delivered through the partition into the lower compartment,substantially as shown and described.

JOHN HENRY ROSE.

Witnesses:

F. G. MARSDEN, W. R. THOMAS.

